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Job dismisses the friends as worthless physicians and prepares to argue his case before God.
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Verse-by-verse study
Move from the study rendering, to the verse's place in the argument, to Hebrew and detailed language notes.
Jobs 1–8 include detailed verse-level notes from the supplied exegetical companion. Jobs 9–42 currently use the supplied whole-book synthesis and Hebrew text, with that source-depth difference marked on every verse.
Job 13:1
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:1 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Job 13:2
Do not speak deceitfully for God
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Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:3
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:3 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:4
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:4 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:5
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:5 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:6
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:6 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:7
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:7 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:8
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:8 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:9
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:9 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:10
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:10 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:11
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:11 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:12
Do not speak deceitfully for God
Read Job 13:12 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:13
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:13 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:14
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:14 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:15
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:15 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:16
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:16 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:17
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:17 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:18
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:18 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:19
I will argue my ways
Read Job 13:19 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:13-19: Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope. The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:20
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
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Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:21
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:21 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:22
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:22 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:23
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:23 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:24
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:24 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:25
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:25 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:26
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:26 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:27
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:27 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Job 13:28
Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
Read Job 13:28 in your preferred licensed English Bible. An English text is not reproduced here without confirmed publication permission.
Commentary in context
Job 13:20-28: Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf. His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Read the movement
Chapter outline and verse-range explanation
Job 13:1-12 · Do not speak deceitfully for God
- What is being said?
- Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality.
- Why does it matter here?
- God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.
Job 13:13-19 · I will argue my ways
- What is being said?
- Job accepts mortal risk and insists on bringing his case. Verse 15 may express hope in God or readiness to argue despite having no hope.
- Why does it matter here?
- The translation question must be acknowledged; either reading shows Job refusing shallow safety.
Job 13:20-28 · Withdraw your hand and tell me the charge
- What is being said?
- Job asks God for two conditions of dialogue, requests disclosure of sins, and describes himself as a windblown leaf.
- Why does it matter here?
- His plea seeks relationship and a specific hearing, not exemption from creaturehood.
Coverage check: Job 13:1-28 is covered continuously by the ranges above.
Follow the argument
Words, images, and argument flow
Key words and images
argue, hope, salvation, hide, charge
Hebrew observation
Job 13:15 is textually and interpretively difficult. Translations differ between hoping in God and having no hope while still arguing his case.
Argument flow
Job confessed that wisdom and power belong to God, not to the friends. He risks direct speech to God because secondhand defenses have failed. The famous statement in verse 15 has a genuine textual and translation difficulty. The appeal broadens into a meditation on mortality and the possibility of renewed life.
Connection to the previous speech
Job confessed that wisdom and power belong to God, not to the friends.
Connection to the next speech
The appeal broadens into a meditation on mortality and the possibility of renewed life.
Read beneath the cross
Law, Gospel, and Christian hope
Law
We protect tidy systems by accusing neighbors and speaking beyond what God has revealed.
Gospel
God hears Job's appeal and will finally expose false accusation rather than abandon the sufferer to it.
Theology of the cross
The cross overturns a theology of glory that measures righteousness by visible ease and power.
Lutheran theological connection
Law and Gospel must be distinguished and personally applied; true doctrine used to crush the wrong person becomes false counsel.
Christ-centered canonical connection
Job's longings for witness, mediator, and Redeemer find their sure canonical fulfillment in Christ while each Job text retains its literary context.
Life together
Pastoral and vocational application
Pastoral application
Do not diagnose calamity as punishment for a particular hidden sin without a word God has actually spoken.
Vocation and life together
Use speech to defend reputations, accompany sufferers, and correct unsupported accusations.
Harmful readings to avoid
- Do not infer a specific hidden sin from suffering, illness, bereavement, infertility, mental illness, or disaster.
- Do not treat lament or questioning as automatic unbelief.
Reflect and pray
Discussion questions
- What changes in the argument or story across Job 13?
- Which words or images in Job 13 deserve slow attention?
- What is true here, and what conclusion must not be drawn?
- How does this chapter teach us to accompany a suffering neighbor?
Prayer
God of truth, give us courage to pray honestly and humility to acknowledge difficult words.
Go further
Related themes, voices, and media
Related themes
Related speakers
Verified media
- The Book of Job: An Overview, Concordia Publishing House (opens in a new tab)
- 40 Minutes in the Old Testament: Job, 1517 (opens in a new tab)
Sources
- Holy Scripture, Job
- Lutheran Confessions and Small Catechism
- South Lake Job research corpus
Commentary in context
Job 13:1-12: Job says the friends smear with lies and warns that divine scrutiny will expose their partiality. God does not need dishonest apologetics or invented accusations.